Concepts Honor the History of Hoops with Converse “Southern Flame” Collection

In 1891, Dr. James Naismith drafted the 13 original rules for the game of basketball while teaching at the YMCA training school in Springfield, Mass. Now, 130 years later, Boston-based Converse has partnered with innovative retailer and neighbor, Concepts, to celebrate the state’s history in hoops — and honor its future.

Drawing inspiration from the two peach baskets that formed Naismith’s early basketball goals, the collaborative project covers the iconic Chuck 70 and the All-Star BB Evo. The choice of shoes nods to Converse’s deep roots in the sport and the brand’s recent return to performance basketball.

“The Chuck transcends all — it’s the one sneaker that has an impact on everyone,” says Deon Point, Creative Director of Concepts. “The one angle we felt is sometimes forgotten is its roots in basketball. Not many even know the Chuck Taylor backstory, so hopefully, this will shed some light on history.”

Concepts present the Chuck 70 in an orange and red gradient colorway throughout the platinum-suede upper — a subtle nod to the fruit’s fuzzy surface. “It was difficult tracking down something that had the burnished suede feel as well as coloration, but Converse did an amazing job of ensuring the material felt like an actual peach,” says Point.

With the All-Star BB Evo, an evolution of the All-Star Pro BB introduced in 2019, Concepts channels the game in a playful sense. The upper on the performance model shares a mix of Shadow Lime and Green Oasis colorways — a nod to the peach’s coloring before it becomes ripe. Each lateral side showcases a flocked Star Chevron logo, and a subtle standout lies within the interior: a Concepts-branded peach blossom print that can be seen on the sock liner and translucent outsole.

“Given the history of Converse on the court, it was only right to include the future of the brand, with the All-Star BB Evo, in our consideration of the story of basketball,” says Point.

The Converse x Concepts “Southern Flame” All-Star BB Evo and Chuck 70 will be available January 28 at Concepts’ Boston and New York locations, cncpts.com, converse.com, and select global retailers.